Irish woman, 3 children being forced to leave Moncton

Anna Graham, of Ireland, and her three children, may soon be separated from Canadian husband, Shawn Graham, of Moncton, due to immigration misinformation, they say. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)

An Irish woman who has called Moncton home for over a year is being forced to leave the country next week.

Anna Graham says it would not have happened if the Department of Immigration call centre staff had better training and offered consistent advice.

Her lawyer plans to appeal the decision to the immigration minister in Ottawa.

Graham and her three children from a previous marriage have been living in Moncton as visitors with her Canadian husband, Shawn Graham.

She contends she was told she couldn't apply to immigrate until her three children's passports were up to date.

But it turns out she could have applied as she waited for the passports.

"The kids are happy, settled here," she told CBC News, adding it's the first time they have ever felt at home. "We don't have anything in Ireland. I've told the border control, we're at the Dublin Airport and we have nowhere to go."

Her husband blames the mix-up on misinformation offered by what he calls inexperienced staff at immigration call centres.

The nearest office is in Fredericton, but people can't show up in person.